No one can be a hero or a heroine in isolation. He or she needs a context, a story to bring out his or her strengths, latent potentialities which when activated, create a profound transformation both within the individual and others around. It was in this context that The Teenager launched its unique teen pageant — the Teen of the Year in 1996. What is sought in the Teen of the Year participant is intrinsic strength of character, leadership, ability to learn, to reach out to others and to share, a sense of vision, respect for all creation and humaneness — values to which he or she does not merely pay lip service, but actually lives by.

JUDGES & CHIEF GUESTS: Many eminent persons have honoured us as judges for this pageant — late Priya Tendulkar, Virginia Biswas (Cine Blitz), Maj. Gen. Eustace D'Souza, Suchitra Pillai (VJ), Shivangi Parikh (Former Miss India-Asia Pacific), Glenn Mascarenhas (RJ, Go92.5 FM), Tarun Khanna (actor), some among them. The pageant has also seen distinguished personalities like Priya Dutt, MP, Pooja Bhatt (filmmaker), Dolly Thakore (eminent newscaster & media personality), Jeanne Michael (Singer and Composer), etc. as our Chief Guests.

Our Chief Guest this year is Purab Kohli star of movies such as Supari (2003), Vastu Shastra (2004), 13th Floor (2005), My Brother Nikhil (2005), Woh Lamhe (2006) and Awarapan (2007). He recently starred in the smash hit of the year Rock On (2008) as Killer-Drummer KD alongside Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal.

PARTICIPANTS’ PROFILE: Participants fall between the age-group of 15-18 years from across the length and the breadth of India, with an even mix of both boys and girls as title holders that only reinforces the fact that this is not a ‘Beauty Contest’ looking for superficial attractiveness and glamour.

THE EVENT PER SE: Preceding the national finals in Mumbai, we conduct zonals at selected cities across the country. From each of this year’s zonal centres — Jaipur, Trivandrum, Pune, Guwahati, Secunderabad, the best 3 were selected to represent that region at the finals. The 3-day-residential final event enables participants to gel with each other and forge a lasting friendship. Participants are closely studied and monitored during these days, while undergoing various activities like Quiz, Group Dynamics, Personal Interviews, etc. Each finalist then presents a talent of personal choice in front of a large audience. The final 3 winners are chosen on the merit of their overall performance through the 3-day-long event, and NOT on any individual category basis.